KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) today called on the government to amend the Employment Act 1955 to increase the maternity leave for private sector workers from 60 days to 90 days to keep abreast with the practice in other Asean countries.
Its General Secretary, J. Solomon, said most Asean countries had adopted the revised International Labour Organisation's Convention 183 on Maternity Protection which not only provided longer leave but also had provisions for breastfeeding and childcare protection.
He told Bernama that Singapore provided 112 days of maternity leave while Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines provided 90 days.
He said in Cambodia, it was mandatory for companies with more than 100 women workers to provide breastfeeding room and childcare centre. Similar facilities were also provided for mothers in Indonesia.
He hoped that Malaysia would emulate its Asean partners and provide better facilities for its 5.1 million women workers who had to juggle between full-time and demanding jobs, and as homemakers with full responsibility for their children's health, growth and development.
Solomon said NUBE would soon submit a memorandum on this issue to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
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